 | This articledescribes a work or element of fiction in a primarilyin-universe style. Pleasehelp rewrite it toexplain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective.(January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Tasmanian Devil | |
|---|---|
| Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies character | |
 | |
| First appearance | Devil May Hare (June 19, 1954; 71 years ago (1954-06-19)) |
| Created by | Robert McKimson Sid Marcus[1] |
| Voiced by | Mel Blanc (1954–1989) Jeff Bergman (1990–1994, 1997, 2004, 2014–2015) Noel Blanc (1990) Maurice LaMarche (1990) Greg Burson (1990–1995, 1997) Jim Cummings (1991–present) Dee Bradley Baker (1996) Joe Alaskey (2000, 2004–2005, 2011) Ian James Corlett (Baby Looney Tunes; 2001–2006) Brendan Fraser (2003) Eric Bauza (2018, 2023) Fred Tatasciore (2020–present) Steve Blum (2023) (see below) |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Tasmanian devil |
| Gender | Male |
| Family | Slam Tasmanian (descendant) Bugs Bunny (owner) (The Looney Tunes Show) |
| Significantother | Tasmanian She-Devil |
TheTasmanian Devil (also spelledTazmanian Devil),[2][3] commonly referred to as "Taz", is a fictionalcartoon character featured in theWarner Bros.Looney Tunes andMerrie Melodies series of cartoons.[4] Though the character appeared in only fiveshorts beforeWarner Bros. Cartoons shut down in 1964, marketing and television appearances later propelled Taz to new popularity throughout the 1990s.
Taz is generally portrayed as a ferocious, albeit dim-witted,carnivore with a notoriously short temper and little patience. In the shortDucking the Devil, he is described as a "vicious, evil-tempered brute with jaws like a steel trap". He is best known for eating anything in his path and having speech consisting mostly of grunts, growls, and rasps (in his earlier appearances, he does speak English with primitive grammar) as well as his ability to spin like a vortex and bite through nearly anything. While in motion, this character is often depicted as a spinning tornado, drilling himself through trees or soil.[5] He has been protrayed as being calmed by music, though not thebagpipes.[6]
Robert McKimson designed the character based on the realTasmanian devil, or more specifically its carnivorous nature, voracious appetite, and surly disposition.[7] A later model sheet was created by animator Ted Bonnicksen.[8]
Owen and Pemberton suggest that the character of the Tasmanian Devil was inspired by Tasmanian actorErrol Flynn.[9]: 153 In 1939, apparently at the request of Warner Bros., the Tasmanian state government had sent three Tasmanian devils to California, where they were presented to theLos Angeles Zoo by Flynn's co-stars theLane Sisters.[10] Two of the devils escaped from the zoo within months and were reported to be roamingGriffith Park.[11]
In his first appearance in McKimson'sDevil May Hare (first released on June 19, 1954), Taz stalksBugs Bunny, but due to his dimwittedness and inability to frame complete sentences, he serves as little more than a nuisance. Bugs eventually gets rid of him in the most logical way possible: matching him up with an equally insatiable Tasmanian She-Devil. The character's speech, a deep, gravelly voice peppered with growls, screeches, andraspberries, is provided byMel Blanc. Blanc once stated that he created Taz's voice because no one knew what real Tasmanian devils looked or sounded like at the time.[12] Only occasionally would Taz actually speak, usually to utter some incongruous punchline (e.g. "What for you bury me in the cold, cold ground?"), and yet the character is capable of writing and reading. Arunning gag is that when Bugs Bunny hears of the approach of Taz, he looks him up in an encyclopedia and starts reading off a list of animals that Taz eats (which is pretty much everything that exists, including "people"). Bugs finds "rabbits" not listed until Taz enters and either points out that "rabbits"are listed or writes rabbits on the list.
After the film short debuted at theaters,producerEdward Selzer, head of theWarner Bros. animation studio, ordered McKimson to shelve the character, feeling that he was too violent for children, and that parents would dislike him.[9]: 157 After a time with no new Taz shorts, studio headJack L. Warner asked what had happened to the character. Warner saved Taz's career when he told Selzer that he had received "boxes and boxes" of letters from people who liked the character and wanted to see more of him.
McKimson would go on to direct four more Taz cartoons, beginning withBedevilled Rabbit (released on April 13, 1957). McKimson would also pair the Devil withDaffy Duck inDucking the Devil (August 17, 1957) before pitting him once again against Bugs inBill of Hare (June 9, 1962) andDr. Devil and Mr. Hare (March 28, 1964). His last two appearances done by the classic Warner Brothers directors, writers, and voice actors were inBugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales appearing inThe Fright Before Christmas segment and at the very end eating the sleigh full of presents.
Taz appeared in the 1983 movieDaffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island asYosemite Sam's first mate.
Taz was going to have a cameo in the 1988 filmWho Framed Roger Rabbit, but was later dropped for unknown reasons.
Taz appeared in various episodes ofTiny Toon Adventures, being the mentor of Dizzy Devil. In thereboot seriesTiny Toons Looniversity, he appears as theCoffeehouse owner of Loo Bru. He was voiced byJeff Bergman,Maurice LaMarche,Noel Blanc andGreg Burson.
In 1991, Taz starred in his own showTaz-Mania, which ran for four seasons; Taz was voiced by long time voice actorJim Cummings.[13]
Taz appeared inAnimaniacs, in the episodes "Draculee, Draculaa/Phranken-Runt" and "Cutie and the Beast/Boo Happens/Noel". He also appeared in "Suffragette City" in the2020 reboot series.
Taz appeared in an episode ofThe Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries entitled "The Scare Up There", where he is revealed to have stolen peanut packs from the flights.
Taz appeared in the 1996 feature filmSpace Jam, as part of theTuneSquad, voiced byDee Bradley Baker. He also appeared in the 2003 feature filmLooney Tunes: Back in Action, voiced byBrendan Fraser.[14]
An infant version of Taz is one of the regular characters inBaby Looney Tunes, voiced byIan James Corlett.
InScooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Scooby-Doo briefly transforms into the Tasmanian Devil after drinking a potion.
Taz appeared inThe Looney Tunes Show episode "Devil Dog", voiced again byJim Cummings. In the show, he is portrayed walking on four legs like a real Tasmanian Devil and his eyes are bloodshot red (later turned yellow when Bugs uses a taming trick thatSpeedy Gonzales taught him). Initially, Bugs believed Taz to be adog and kept him as a house pet much to his roommate Daffy Duck's discomfort. Eventually, Bugs learned the truth and tried to return him to his home in Tasmania, only to find out that Taz would rather live with him, naming him "Poochie". Taz subsequently appears in the following episodes "The Foghorn Leghorn Story", "Newspaper Thief", and "Bugs and Daffy Get a Job". Taz later played a major part in "Ridiculous Journey" where he,Sylvester (whom Taz tried to eat) andTweety were accidentally sent to Alaska by Yosemite Sam. The three of them work to get home while encountering other characters and avoiding trackerBlacque Jacque Shellacque. Eventually, they make it home when it turned out that Blacque was hired by Yosemite Sam to retrieve the three on behalf of Bugs andGranny.
Taz originally appeared in the seriesWabbit as Theodore Tasmanian, an accountant at Chesterfield Consultants who tries to repress his vicious side. Unlike most versions of the character, he spoke more coherently. He was also married and had a child. Taz eventually returned to his original characterization and way of speaking when the series was retooled asNew Looney Tunes.
An alternate version of Taz appeared in the 2017DC Comics/Looney Tunes crossover comics, where he was designed more for the DC Universe and faced off againstWonder Woman in theWonder Woman/Tasmanian Devil Special. In the story, Taz is a Guardian of the Labyrinth onThemyscira and fought Diana when she was a teenager during her trials to become an Amazon warrior. Before Taz could attack her, Diana plays the harp and puts it to sleep before snipping off some of his fur as proof of her victory. She returns to Taz years later as Wonder Woman afterCirce uses the Talisman of Eurytale to turnHippolyta and the other Amazons into stone. As the Talisman can only be stopped by the Minotaur's Amulet, she requests Taz's help as Taz's connection to the other Guardians would lead them down the right path. During the journey, Taz reveals that he wasn't mad at Diana for tricking him, but was rather upset that she took the music away. The two defeat the Minotaur and Circe and the Amazons reward him with a large feast in return. In the issue's backup story (done more in the style of the classicLooney Tunes shorts), Diana sings to Taz the tale of the Trojan War with her and the Looney Tunes characters roleplaying the major players, but Taz in his dream alters the events to work out more in his favor.[15]
Taz first appears in theLooney Tunes Cartoons specialBugs Bunny's 24-Carrot Holiday Special in where he is a caroler. Taz appears as a gladiator in the episodeTaziator. While he is more like most depictions, he actually speaks more comprehensible English. He is voiced byFred Tatasciore in these appearances.
Taz appears in the 2021 feature filmSpace Jam: A New Legacy with Tatasciore reprising the role, with additional dialogue done by Cummings.[16]
Taz appears in the preschool seriesBugs Bunny Builders, voiced again by Tatasciore.[17][18]
Taz appears in the 2023 direct-to-video filmTaz: Quest for Burger, voiced bySteve Blum.[19] He speaks comprehensible English and has a raspy voice.
On June 16, 2023, it was announced Taz would appear in a stop-motion short animated byHanna-Barbera Studios Europe.[20]
Taz appears in theTeen Titans Go! episode, "Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary". He is among the Looney Tunes characters guests for the Warner Bros. centennial celebration, with Fred Tatasciore reprising his role.
All five of the original Taz cartoons are included inLooney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1, along with "The Fright BeforeChristmas".
The character's first video game outing was in a title from the later days of the Atari 2600, in a 1983 release entitledTaz. The 1990s saw a return of the character to video games inTaz-Mania and its semi-sequelTaz in Escape from Mars. Both titles appeared on theMega Drive/Genesis,Master System &Game Gear systems. There were other Taz-Mania games released on theNintendo SNES andGame Boy systems. He also costarred in thePlayStation/PC gameBugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters, and in 2002'sTaz: Wanted onPlayStation 2,GameCube,Xbox and PC. He also appeared in the video gamesThe Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle 2,The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout,Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal,Looney Tunes: Space Race,Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle 3,Bugs Bunny in Crazy Castle 4,Looney Tunes: Back in Action, andGalactic Taz Ball. He was even the inspiration for a video game character himself, namelyCrash Bandicoot.
In the late 1990s to early 2000s, whenChevrolet used the Looney Tunes as part of their NASCAR campaign, theChevrolet Monte Carlo racing teams were referenced as Team Monte Carlo, with the Tasmanian Devil as the mascot.
Taz was a chocolate bar byCadbury in the UK during the '90s and was later renamed Freddo Caramel.
Professional wrestlerPeter Senercia adopted "Taz" and the variant spelling "Tazz" as hisring names.
InScooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), Taz is one of the formsScooby-Doo briefly takes upon accidentally drinking a chemical substance.
From 2005 to 2010, a custom-bodied Tazmonster truck competed in theMonster Jam circuit, driven byAdam Anderson. Adam drove the truck to theMonster Jam World Finals Freestyle championship in 2008. It was retired in 2010, with aScooby-Doo-themed truck being its replacement debuting in 2013.
Taz appeared in a 2014GEICO commercial, where he drinks a "certain energy drink" and goes on a rampage.
In June 2017, the character appeared in theWonder Woman / Tasmanian DevilSpecial #1, written byTony Bedard with art byBarry Kitson. This version is reimagined as a Guardian of the Labyrinth onThemyscira, whom Wonder Woman defeated when she was a teenager, but later teams up with her to save the Amazons from Circe.[66][67]
In April 2017, Taz appeared in aFunko Pop! and has appeared in three more since.
Taz appears as a playable character in the fighting gameMultiVersus, with Jim Cummings reprising his role.
Warner Bros' trademark on the character has raised a number of issues with entities in the Australian state ofTasmania, where theTasmanian devil is common and emblematic.
1997
In 1997, a newspaper report noted that Warner Bros had "trademarked the character and registered the name Tasmanian Devil", and that this trademark "was policed", including an eight-year legal battle to allow a Tasmanian company to call itsfishing lure the "Tasmanian Devil". Debate followed,[where?] and a delegation from the Tasmanian state government met with Warner Bros.[9]: 161–164 Ray Groom, the Tourism Minister, later announced that a "verbal agreement" had been reached. An annual fee would be paid to Warner Bros in return for the Government of Tasmania being able to use the image of Taz for "marketing purposes". This agreement later lapsed.[9]: 167–169
In 1997, the Tasmanian government and Warner Bros. disputed the government's right to use the character as a tourism promotion, which was offered only if a fee was paid. The government refused to pay a fee to Warner Bros.[68]
2006
In 2006, after much lobbying from the Tasmanian government, Warner Bros decided to assist the fight against extinction of theTasmanian devil due todevil facial tumour disease (DFTD).[68] Tasmanian Environment MinisterJudy Jackson, prior to the agreement, had heavily criticised Warner Bros., stating that the company had made millions of dollars from the character, but did not put up any money when other companies had.[citation needed]
The deal with Warner Bros allowed the Tasmanian government to manufacture and sell up to 5,000 special edition Tazplush toys, with all profit going towards funding scientific research into DFTD.[69][70] The deal also aimed to increase public attention towards the threatening disease.
2023
Potential issues surrounding Warner's trademark were raised after the May 2023 announcement that theAustralian Football League's 19th team licence would begiven to Tasmania, as the team was widely rumoured to be wanting to use the name Tasmania Devils. The trademark issues were settled and the team was announced as the Devils in March 2024.[71][72]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link){{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)| National | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
